Onyx is a city ruled by the Ophidian Cartel . But to 19 year old Adalie Riva , Onyx is the land of opportunity as she leaves home to become a sultry jazz performer . Adalie is quickly enraptured with the vibrant city from its music , it's food and...
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Cheers lilted into the air around her , mingling with incessant chatter. The scent of flowers and the iron of overturned soil filled her nostrils as Adalie walked off the stage
" Fascinating !" A Man appeared out of nowhere, startling Adalie as he sidled next to her, his loose white shirt billowing about his trim torso, the halo of gold across his forehead tilted askew. “ absolutely fascinating , darlin” he drawled.
"Adalie " she said softly .
With the hunger of a seasoned sinner, He ogled Adalie’s chest .
" Nigel " he grinned taking her hand in his . "Very pleased to meet you and may I say , your voice is angelic" Nigel twisted the waxed ends of his blond mustache, his expression mischievous, his accent thick .
“ well I am heaven sent ,” Adalie teased as she tore her hand from his
He peered down at her with exaggerated imperiousness. “I manage the group of musicians , ' The Queen of Amazons ' that you performed so beautifully with tonight and we have been looking for a singer and you might be what we've been searching for .”
Happiness warmed beneath her skin , her lips parting in surprise. “ Wow .” Adalie said , a ghost of a smile lingering on her face. “that sounds amazing but I will have to think about it !.” Nigel bowed deeply, then whips a card out of his back pocket . "Call this number anytime and we'll talk business." He sent a cheeky nod to Adalie & turned to leave
Her attention strayed toward where Luca stood . disappointment took place deep inside her when he appeared to have disappeared amongst the shadows .
She scanned her surroundings, her eyes falling on Priscilla as she sat on a tall, broad-shouldered young man . Adalie got the feeling this was gonna be a night in which drunken fools lost their inhibitions in a maze of fragrant rosebushes, forgetting all their thorns.
Adalie looked about, seeking an escape . The next instant, she wheeled about without warning, rushing toward the entrance of the mansion .
Adalie didn’t know why she was sure she would find Luca waiting for her . She just knew—with the certainty of a rising moon—that he would.
Adalie wove past a pair of young women embracing in a corner, rose petals crushed to paste beneath their feet. A shoulder strap on one girl’s gown had slid down her arm, the rouge on her lover’s lips nothing more than a smudge across her cheek. Her face flaming with apology, Adalie rounded the next corner and came upon a dead end. She spun in place, her head held high. Luca stood before her, backlit by the moon
"I enjoyed your performance immensely.” His face held nothing but shadows, the set of his jaw refined. He took a step closer. An arctic chill emanated from his skin. “But it made me wanna tear this pretty little dress off your body ” he stared at her licking his lips as his gaze traveled from her head down to her toes . Slowly . Deliberately .
Luca took another step closer, pressing Adalie into the corner.
"Stop,” she commanded. He halted in his tracks. “Are you afraid?” “No. I have questions.” “I see.” Luca's response was slow.
“For my safety , I have to know if you took part in killing your ex-girlfriend ?” Adalie asked outright, unnerved by the tremor in her chest. Adalie expected to see a glimmer of shock in his expression. He remained stone-faced, the hem of his long coat writhing about him like darkness incarnate.
“You think I killed her,” he said quietly. The coal of night made it difficult for Adalie to discern his features. “I don’t know what to think.”she said
“If I told you I didn’t kill her, would you believe me? ?” He advanced once more, prowling like a panther, the timbre of his voice lowering even further. “I . . . don’t know.” “Do you want to believe me?” It was as if Lucifer himself had posed Adalie the question, his tone filled with dark deviltry. Yes, her heart said. “No.” Adalie's hands balled into fists. “Liar.” The last step Luca took brought his face into a beam of moonlight. A sharp breath filled Adalie's lungs. He was painfully beautiful. Not in the way of art or the way of poetry. But in the way of violence He stared down at Adalie, his lips pursed, his features calculating. " I would never hurt you" he said softly
Adalie looked up, meeting his study, measure for measure. She inhaled, taking in the spice of the bergamot in his cologne mixed with the scent of supple leather. “It appears your reputation precedes you,” she said,
“Adalie.” He pronounced her name like a prayer. “What do you want?” “I want . . .” She saw herself mirrored in his liquid gaze. Luca brushed his forehead across hers. “Put an end to our miseries ” he whispered. “Please.” Adalie rose on the tips of her toes, crowding his space as he’d crowded hers. She gripped him by his pristine lapels , The front of her basque pressed to the hardened planes of his body, Luca's heart racing against hers. He looked down, then steadied himself.
Their lips were a hairsbreadth from touching. “I want”— Adalie's tongue was a taste away from his—“ you .”
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If you enjoyed the chapter , vote and comment 💜 also the next chapter will be in Luca's pov So we'll get to see how Luca really feels about Adalie .
